Drop Shotting

[AFDan52]

I have never tried this method of fishing, but i was wondering if Drop Shotting works for Ice Fishing? Any thought s on this?

AFdan52
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[Flycasting]

It can be very effective ice fishing. Rather than using a weight at the bottom, I like to use a heavy lead jigging spoon. I have caught doubles doing this before.

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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]Folks have been using variations of "drop shotting" through the ice for many years. The concept is simply to put a weight on the bottom and rig one or two hooks or jigs above it, at your choice of heights above the bottom.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]The weight can be a sinker or a jig...or a lure like a Kastmaster. The lure(s) can be light ice flies or heavier jigs rigged to work above the bottom. The ideal setup is a weight heavy enough to maintain "feel" with the bottom and then a light lure that will flutter when you wiggle and jiggle the line.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]There are lots of times and places when a drop shot rig will work well. First is when your sonar shows fish coming through at about a foot off the bottom. Rig your drop shot offering to ride at that level or slightly above. When your sinker "touches down", tighten the line enough to feel it but not enough to lift the weight off the bottom. Now shivver the line every few seconds and watch the rod tip. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Watch for it to go either way. One advantage of having a bit of weight on the end is to "load" the rod tip a bit. If it bounces up, that indicates that a fish has "struck upward". That kind of take is hard to detect when fishing a light jig alone. And, since the line is tight, even a light downward pull registers better than if it had to pull coils or stretch out of your line before showing up on your rod.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]A good trick with a dropshot rig under the ice is to periodically bounce the sinker into the mud a few times...to raise a mud cloud. That can bring in fish both from the standpoint of the noise and vibration, but also because of the mud cloud. When fish are feeding on the bottom they often make such a cloud so it rouses the curiousity of other fish.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]There are times when you may wish to rig your bait/lure several feet up off the bottom. Let the sonar guide you.[/#0000ff]
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[Flycasting]

I guess I could have elaborated a little more! Thanks TD! []

By the way, what type of knot do you use for the main offering?
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[AFDan52]

Hey guys thanks for all the good information. Any info is better than none at all. I'm going try this out later. Right now this fat boy is going to wait for a few more inches of ice build up. Fell through one , that is enough .

AFDan52
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]I rig differently or ice fishing than for REAL DSing in open water. It depends on what size line I am useing, what size lures I am fishing and for what species. Usually I carry an extra spool of the main mono I am fishing with and just blood knot a dropper. I make the dropper short...less than 3 ".[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]If I am fishing stout line, with bigger jigs, I will rig a quick loop dropper. This makes for a stiffer connection and holds the jig out away from the line better, with more positive feel. Once you get the hang of tying them, you can whup out one of those loops quickly. They are a loop version of the blood knot.[/#0000ff]
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[bassrods]

The best knot is a palimar it holds the hook at the right angle to the line and I drop shot all year long ice or not....

And for all species of fish....


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[fsh4fun05]

I agree with bassrods, the palomar knot is a better choice. No loop to scare off the finicky ones. Check out the sweet name of this site. [url "http://www.fish4fun.com/palomarknot.htm"]http://www.fish4fun.com/palomarknot.htm[/url]
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[HOOSIER]

Knot tying really isn't my forte so maybe I'm missing something here, but how do you tie this knot on a lure with a small eyelet? Everytime I've tried to double the line and pass it through the hook eye I can never get it to work, especially with a small ice fly. What am I doing wrong?
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[tomegun]

With my eagle eyesight, I have to run the line through once and then back again. Just remember to used an ample amount of line.

The Palomer is the easyist knot I ever learned to tie. It gives double the knot strength of other knots.

Do you remember when I brought the "Gunship" up to Bear Lake two years ago? We were drop shotting for macks.

Yesterday ice fishing I was drop shotting thru the ice(mean joegreen.see TKB).

You can drop shot anywhere and everywhere. All fish can be caught by the rig, you just need to select your baits, hooks, and weights.

Don't listen to these McGuyver wannabes about drop shotting weights. Making your own are just cheap imations that don't work, I know I've tried. The multi-billion dollar bass industry has been making drop shot weights for years. These are tested and easy to use. Plus, they are cheap and durable. Do you wanna fish? Or, be machinist wasting time building a better mouse trap?

You can also use jigheads tipped with meat or plastics as a drop weight. This will give you a ground hugging hook as well as a suspending presentation. You can even texas rig your bottom weight to be weedless.

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[tomegun]

I forgot, I use an ice fly as my upper hook and a Foxee jig as my weight. Just tip'em with the usual baits.

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[Flycasting]

All you do is drop shot? If so, doesn't that limit you...
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[bassrods]

What I should have said is I only drop shot when ice fishing....

I do use other ways of fishing at different times of year and lakes...

But if I need a weight I use MOJO weights cause they work the best and are the most weed free and snag free of all that I have tried, and I would rather be fishing then tying on another lure....


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[ScottyP]

Whats wrong with using split shot as a drop shot weight? Not so Macguyver-ish sounding to me. And are you guys saying that using a two jig setup through the ice is the same as dropshotting? I just thought it was refered to as a 'two jig setup'?
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[BrianID]

I also use the two jig set up while ice fishing. The lower/heavier jig just replaces the sinker. I use the larger jig instead of a sinker because it gives the fish something else to look at.
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